Nick Coppola scored 14 of his 15 points in the second half and overtime and 12th-seeded Louisiana-Monroe upset No. 5 seed Arkansas State 73-70 on Wednesday in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament.
Sam Alabakis added 14 points and Marvin Jean-Pierre 12 for the Warhawks (8-24), who will play No. 4 seed Texas State in a quarterfinal Friday.
Alabakis and Jean-Pierre opened overtime with baskets and Marcus Washington added six points in a 10-2 run to take control. Coppola made two free throws with six seconds left after the Red Wolves got within three.
